Archive:000/Scale up wind power

Can wind power be scaled up enough to decarbonize energy production? Yes, with limitations:

Limitations

Wind power is highly intermittent, so much so that batteries wouldn't be enough. Surplusi.e. during any moments when the generated electricity exceeds the local immediate demand wind power would mostly be stored by producing hydrogen gas, which would later be used for thermal energy mostly: ^{[see why]}Non-thermal uses of hydrogen gas are less scalable; i.e. hydrogen fuel cell vehicles would need far too many platinum-group metals (compared to hydrogen production).

• burned for heating homes
• burned for cooking food (gas stoves)
• used in hydrogen combustion vehicles
• used in place of coal & gas in most industries

Solar and/or nuclear would still be needed for electricity whenever the wind isn't blowing.